This type of misperception, sadly, means that people can be reluctant to admit they have dyslexia, or do not want their child to be labeled, for fear of the stigma attached. The more people who speak out and say, “this affects me”, the more we might be able to tear down the misconceptions and build bridges of understanding. When people understand why we struggle they might have more tolerance and also know to look out for the incredible gift that we have because we see the world in a different way.

While today is about identifying if you or someone you know might be struggling with this, there is a huge silver lining. Some amazing people are dyslexic, they are amazing not despite being dyslexic but BECAUSE of it. We see and process information differently and have a unique perspective on the world. Once you understand that, you can help find your gift or unlock that of your child.

It is very hard to feel like you have a gift or are special in any way, if all your interactions to date, with learning are difficult. Feeling stupid is easy. I like people to know they or their child are dyslexic not to burden them with a label, but rather to help them find the tools to work with their brain to overcome the difficulties, so that we can get to the wonderful unique person inside. You can’t let your light shine if you are covered with the thought that you are stupid and lazy.

I hope to show you what we struggle with and then sing the praises loudly of what makes us wonderfully special in my next post.

Like I mentioned in my first post Dyslexic, not stupid this condition is on a continuum and can look quite different in different people. Some people will display a lot of the symptoms and others less so. But one of that hardest things for people to grasp is that it is not consistent.

I hear many parents say things like:
“But you could spell that word yesterday, you are just being lazy”
Or “you just read that word on the page before, how can you not know what it is now?”

While someone might be able to read/spell/do the thing one day they may not the next day or even an hour later. We are consistently inconsistent!

A lot of people think that dyslexia is just swapping b’s and d’s around and misspelling words but it is quite a lot more than that. It involves how the brain, stores, processes and retrieves written information and language.

Most dyslexics will exhibit some but not usually all of these traits, and as I said it can change from day to day. Even non dyslexic people many have a couple of these but it is when you have 10 or more that it starts to point to a dyslexic type condition.

Indicators of Dyslexic type conditions*

• Dyslexia often runs in families, there is a strong genetic link
• They are often highly intelligent and have very good verbal and language skills but perform read, writing and spelling tasks way below what is expected for their age and intellectual ability. ( without spell check and a computer I would come across illiterate)
• Low self-esteem, does not feel intelligent or clever, may feel dumber  than other people in their class or of the same age.
• They often learn ingenious ways to cover up their struggles like ‘reading’ from memory or telling what a word might be from a picture rather than actually being able to read it.
• Talented in using their hands; art, drama, crafts, woodwork, cooking, sport, mechanics, story telling, seeing things in a 3 dimensional way, engineering, building
• Daydreamers, think in pictures and have a vivid imagination
• Clumsy and often has poor ball skills or team sport skills.
• Learns best by hand on experience using all the senses.
•  Struggle to learn the name and sounds of letters
• Inconsistent and unpredictable spelling, often spelling phonetically.
• Swapping the order of letters of numbers
• Writing numbers or figures that wrong way around
• Using “b” and “d” or “p” and “g” interchangeably
•  Reading slowly and having a lot more trouble reading aloud that when they are able to read to themselves.
• Visual disturbances when reading. Feeling like the words are moving on the page
• Slow writing speed and poor hand writing
• Struggling to remember the sequences like the days of the week and months of the year
• Struggle to tell left from right
•  Difficulty breaking words up into sound groups – phonemes.

As a dyslexic person gets older they may or may not have learnt to compensate for some of these problems above, or may still struggle. The use of technology, word processors and spell checkers can mean that as adults some can function quite well with their condition. But there are still traits that teens and adults will have, that are a clue to this condition if not diagnosed as a child.

• Struggling to express and organise written information even if they are very knowledgable on the topic.
• Difficulty planning and writing reports, essays or letters.
• Avoid reading, especially reading out loud. While many dyslexic people give up on reading for pleasure because of negative associations from childhood, many learn to enjoy reading but most will avoid reading out loud, if at all possible. (karaoke would be my worst nightmare, and not just because I can’t hold a tune or sing.)
• Difficulty revising for exams and picking out important information to study
• Difficulty copying or taking notes
• Poor spelling
• Struggling to remember a PIN number to telephone number
• Often being unable to find the right word to use when speaking, they know what they want to say but in the moment they can not recall the right word. (I use a of “thingy” “whatsit” “thingamajig” “you know what I mean”)
• poor time management
• Messy and disorganised work and desk space
• Strong sense of justice and emotional sensitivity
• Thinks in pictures and with feelings, not facts and words
• Motion sickness

For all dyslexic people making mistakes and symptoms increase dramatically when they are confused, under time pressure or emotional stress.

While people believe that those showing these difficulties just need to try hard and they will improve this is not the case. Knowing and understanding why they struggle means that we can help decode the written world in a way that they can understand and succeed.

* disclaimer: this blog does not mean to take the place of proper medical or educational diagnosis. It is just a list of problems that a lot a dyslexic people struggle with. Please see professional advice as needed.

Have you ever had a moment in your life a total and utter shame and humiliation, and it was not even anything you did wrong, but rather your very brain let you down? The moment when you wished the earth would swallow you?

Two moment at school stick out for me. One that happened to me and one that happened to my mom. But both have had far reaching effects on my life.

1) When I was in high school we did an unprepared spelling test and then had to read our mark/grade out in front of the whole class. I got 1 out of 20. The sheer humiliation at having to say that out loud and have people snigger and laugh is something I doubt I will ever forget. The clear message to Teenage me was “you are stupid!”

2) Years after school my mom told me about a meeting with my Std 1 teacher ( Year 3, Grade 3, 3rd year of formal school, I was 7 turning 8) She told my mom never to expect much from me, that I was not very bright and would not be able to do much. This was an older teacher with years of experience. I am forever grateful that more is known about dyslexic now and also that my mom, a teacher herself saw my potential and told this teacher that she respectfully disagreed and that if she would not help me learn, then my mom would and she did.

I am dyslexic, this was not something I had a name for until I was an adult. It took a while to realise that it was just my brain processing things differently and had no impact on my intelligence.

Dyslexic affects different people in different ways, it is also on a continuum which means some people can be mildly affected and other much more severely. For me, learning to read was challenging, while I can now read fast and enjoy reading for pleasure, I still struggle to read aloud. Processing written language and speaking at the same time is not something that I find easy at all. But spelling is by far my nemesis.

I really can’t spell. It is not from a lack of trying or reading or anything else. My brain just struggles to find and recall the word from my memory. Often I will know the word is wrong but I will not know how to fix it.

I don’t think dyslexia was something that was recognised or given much credit when I was at school. My mom said that no one mentioned it or seemed to know a lot about it.

As I said these things shaped my life, I knew I was different, but my mom never stop being a champion for me. She did not have a label for what was wrong, but deep down she knew that my intelligence and my ability to spell where separate. She never ever let me doubt for a minute, that while I might have to work harder than most, that I could do anything I wanted, and for that I am so grateful.

As many as 1 in 5 people are on the dyslexic spectrum and often are missed and get lost in the system. I have started this series of posts on dyslexia on my blog to raise awareness and to give hope to parents with kids that might be struggling and to document my journey with my children all of whom are affected. Some to a lesser and some to a great degree. I hope to share what I have learnt, and review things we have tried.

My mom joins us for todays episode

wow KAL is over, thank you so much to everyone who participated. I would love to hear how the experience was for your guys. Did you discover new designers and dyers? Did you go all around the world? What was your favourite part?

Watch the video for a podcast only special present from me.

**Works in Progress**

I am working on the sock from the yarn blank that WoolDiaries gave me from Yorkshiredale Yarn I am doing the Speckled Space Socks which is a free pattern on Ravelry. I went too far and had to frog a whole lot. This project is in a fantastic sock box that Sally gave me. You must go and check out her shop for more wonderful boxes available Yarn Bling

So Faded sweater body is finished and I am on the first sleeve. The yarn is from Miss la Motte

The one sock in the Opal Sally yarn is too tight. I did a Rounded Toe, Fish Lips Kiss Heel and twisted rib cuff. I am going to need to frog it until before the heel. But not wanting to right now so it is in the naughty corner

**Finished Objects**

I finished a hat for my sister, the Mike2.0 slouchy version. The pattern should be up this week. It was in Miss La Motte yarn that I did not use for my sweater

Eco Fusion cowl for my other sister is finished with the fabric sewn on the back. This one does not have a name yet so if you have any ideas, let me know

Winter is coming Grande is the bigger version of the Winter is Coming Shawl pattern that I designed as my first pattern on Ravelry. Pattern will be out for test soon. My hard drive died so I got a lot less done this weekend that I had hoped.

Fingering weight version is going to go on the needles soon. I did my first UK collaboration with Debbie from Down Sheepy Lane and I can not wait to show you guys the amazing colours she dreamed up. I am so excited for this project. Check out her Etsy store for wonderful Game of Thrones inspired yarn and more. Down Sheepy Lane

I got a lovely present for my birthday from Uschi
Get better soon shout out to Emilia

**PRIZES!!**

If you have won please send me your details

– Aditis Shop on Etsy is giving a wonderful project bag from Paris in Shweshwe fabric.
– won by cpredmor

– My yarn Story minis donated by knitknatter who ran the Asia leg
– won by sylvia

– South African colouring in book
– won by Luchilucy

– Natural Yarn prize of yarn from Stellar Fibreworks and a Natural yarn project bag and buttons
– won by theselittlehands

– 4 bags donated by theselittlehands
-won by fyreflye, suiroter, HopeKnitters and Adelecrochet2

– Miss la Motte sock yarn in Cliftonesque colourway
– won by Becky714

– Alpaca yarn from Btrix Yarn

– Gerlene sponsored 2 prizes from Ireland, one of which has gone to Ruthynoemyalready the other is
-won by sehepworth

– Incomparable hand made ceramic buttons included in all the prizes sent out by me.

Happy Knitting

[1]: http://www.yarnbling.co.za/product-category/sock-box/
[2]: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/DownSheepyLane
[3]: https://www.etsy.com/shop/aditisshop
[4]: https://naturalyarns.co.za/
[5]: http://btrixdsigns.co.za/product-category/btrixyarns/
[6]: http://www.buttonmad.com/

Goodness I really blended into the wall today. We will have to work on a better background! And I must not wear light colours.

I turned 40 and was really spoilt. A lovely tea with my sister on the day and a picnic with friends on the weekend.

Yme got me a Nostepinne but I am unsure how one says that, maybe Disa can help as I believe it is a Scandinavian word.

Sharon gave me some lovely yarn from Knitglobal

Caroline -quiltercaroline on Ravelry sent us a wonderful house warming gift. She also sent Rachel and I a copy of her Mountain Air shawl which is beautiful.

YarnderWoman sent me the Radical Red pattern for my birthday which I am looking forward to trying.

Clare Devine has released her first sweater pattern Kimmeridge cardigan in Aran weight, it is a beautiful design so check that one out. It is from her From Dorset with Love collection

I cast on the birthday sock yarn blank that WoolDiaries gave me from [yorkshiredaleyarn](yarn) I am doing the Speckled Space Socks which is a free pattern on Ravelry.

What else am I working on?

So Faded sweater is coming on well and I am on the last colour for the body now. This has been a great knit.

Winter is coming Grande is the bigger version of the Winter is Coming Shawl pattern that I designed as my first pattern on Ravelry.

I finished one sock in the Opal Sally yarn. I did a Rounded Toe Fish Lips Kiss Heel and twisted rib cuff.

I do think that i need to start adding more stitches before I do my heel again. I do have a very high instep but got a bit lazy with adding stitches.

I am still working on the Eco Fusion cowl for my sister.

Reminder that this is the last month to get your Finished Objects in the Wonders of the World Africa FO thread. There are some amazing prizes to be won.

– Misslamotte sock yarn in Cliftonesque colourway
– Toy Rabbit kit from ColourSpun won by lilymaya ( I have not forgotten I promise)
– Alpaca yarn from Btrix Yarn
– Project bag from Yarn Bling wooldiaries won by Debfinite
– Gerlene sponsored 2 prizes from Ireland, one of which has gone to Ruthynoemy already
– Hartlam mixed Agapanthas yarn was won by SASenior
– Aditis Shop on Etsy is giving a wonderful project bag from Paris in Shweshwe fabric
– Shawl quantity of Eco Fusion by Nurturing Fibres was won by Fmarianab
– Theselittlehands of the These Little hand podcast donate 4 wonderful project bags which she made for the giveaway
– South African Colouring in book
– Imcompareable hand made ceramic buttons
– BeinspiredSA beautiful jewel tones sock yarn blank won by Averil

There are 2 prizes that I subsequently found that I will mention next time

Thanks for watching and I hope Rachel is back with me next week, it now feels weird to do this on my own.

**FOs**

– 2 hats for my brother in law, one in the Cape Point hat and one in a new design called Mike 2.0. I used Cascade Heritage and Drops Delight Yarns

– Pink and purple socks are finally finished.

– Pink smaller version of the Mike 2.0 for my niece.

**WIPs**

– I tried for knit the Find Your Fade shawl on the plane but I just kept messing up the lace bit.

– Using the yarn to knit a So Faded sweater instead
Yarn from the very talented artist Miss la Motte

I am hoping to have enough for the shawl too after I finish the sweater.

– Making a cowl for my sister using [Eco Fusion](yarn)

– Cast on socks using the Opal Sally yarn that I got for [WoolDiaries](/people/WoolDiaries) and me

– working on Rachel’s Kiddy Vertebrae pattern I need to get a grey yarn to do all the ribbing and the front band.

– Rachel is still working on my orange socks and has done some spinning

I will run through all the prizes next time, but new to the list is a set of yarn Fatema (Knitknacker on Ravelry) sent me when she was in the UK it is dyed by My yarn story Co

**Birthday Month**
My first gift for turning 40 is from my amazing friend [WoolDiaries](/people/WoolDiaries), she got me such a beautiful sock yarn blank which I am going to cast on, on my birthday. It is from Yorkshire Dale Yarn

Watch out for a birthday special later in the month

We are delighted to be back

notes coming soon

Links to all the months and there details can be found here

Be sure to check out the prizes thread to see what amazing prizes are on offer for this Africa part of the KAL

February thread is where all the action will happen this month and where i will draw some of the prizes from. For this month the only criteria is participation and chatting.

The finished object thread will run from February until June to give everyone time to finish and especially for those who are waiting for yarn from Africa

All my patterns are discounted for the month of February for the KAL you can use the code: wowkal2017 for a 35% discount. (Excluding Phoenix as this is a charity hat)

Prizes that we received this week

Remember to check the prizes thread for a full list of all the prizes but these are the new ones.

– Millicent – these little hands we got some beautiful bags which I can fetch on the weekend at the post office. I am so excited thats she sent some for Rachel and I too. Be sure to try her podcast for more from South Africa: These Little Hands

– Gerlene from South Africa now in Ireland sponsored some lovely prizes that she is going to post from Ireland at the end of the KAL

– We got a beautiful sock yarn blank from Be Inspired which was dyed by Yarn Snob. Check out the website for sock blanks and other wonderful yarn from South Africa, including the Miss La Motte I showed last week

What am I working on? Knitting spent time in the naughty corner this week

I am making socks for The Geek out of the yarn that I gave him for Christmas it is Nurturing Fibres Mo Sock base in these beautiful Greens and Blues. I added the heel too soon and I had to frog them. I am using the German short row heel method but the Fish Lips Kiss heel pattern is well worth it not only for the heel information but all about where to put the heel for a perfect fit

I decided to call these socks Schrodingers socks after the Thought Experiment by Schrodinger. We don’t explain it very well but it has to do with the cat being dead and alive at the same time. Wikipedia does a better job of explaining it.

I frogged back on the sleeves of the Opera sweater and made then narrower. I am now much more happy with them. I added the icord neck and this is now a FO!

We hope you enjoyed this episode and if you are new to our podcast please come and say hello and join the KAL

Happy Knitting

It is the beginning of February so that means that the Wonders of the World KAL has come to Africa!

Links to all the months and there details can be found here

Be sure to check out the prizes thread to see what amazing prizes are on offer for this Africa part of the KAL

February thread is where all the action will happen this month and where i will draw some of the prizes from. For this month the only criteria is participation and chatting.

The finished object thread will run from February until June to give everyone time to finish and especially for those who are waiting for yarn from Africa

I released my Organised Chaos Shawl for the KAL
This shawl was knitted in Nurturing Fibres Eco Fusion yarn and Carle has kindly donated a kit of the yarn used in this shawl as a prize for the KAL too

I finished knitting my Savannah Cowl and it is being test knitted at the moment. Rachel and I are going to go the nature reserve to take some pictures of the cowl. I am not sure we will find Savannah here in Cape Town but it is dry enough that we should find something similar.

We wondered if rain in other dry places like Australia smells the same as it does here. There is something about the smell of rain in Africa which is so wonderful. Maybe Clare Devine who has lived in both place can tell us.

All my patterns are discounted for the month of February for the KAL you can use the code: wowkal2017 for a 35% discount. (Excluding Phoenix as this is a charity hat)

Prizes that we received this week

Remember to check the prizes thread for a full list of all the prizes but these are the new ones.

– Michelle from Hartlam has kindly donated 2 skeins of her new St Lucia sock yarn which is a 100% super wash merino singles, in the colourway Mixed Agapanthus

– Aditi is a South African living in France she is Aditofbollywood on Instagram and she donated a wonderful shweshwe bag. This will be posted from France. She sells her bags through Instagram and Etsy ( apologies for getting the Instagram name wrong in the podcast)

– Miss La Motte gave us a skein of 100% merino sock wool in the Cliftonesque colourway. Her yarn is available through Be Inspired

– Gina from Natural Yarns runs a wonderful on line shop that stocks a lot of yarn from various South African dyers. This would be a great place to dip your toe into the African pond if you like becasue there is such a variety under one roof. She donated a prize of the own yarn Stellar Fibreworks on the Journey sock base in the colourway Bad Romance. There are some matching buttons and a beautiful Tote bag too

What am I working on?
I am making socks for The Geek out of the yarn that I gave him for Christmas it is Nurturing Fibres Mo Sock base in these beautiful Greens and Blues. I wanted to make a pattern that was both easy and a nod to science and all things Geeky because we are called Pinky and the Geek.

I decided to call these socks Schrodingers socks after the Thought Experiment by Schrodinger. We don’t explain it very well but it has to do with the cat being dead and alive at the same time. Wikipedia does a better job of explaining it.

We hope you enjoyed this episode and if you are new to our podcast please come and say hello and join the KAL

Happy Knitting

Our first podcast of the year.

Lots of news about the Wonders of the world KAL and other big things happening in our life.

Winner of our Nurturing Fibres give away from last year is Angeiship, congratulations. Please send me your mailing details.

There will be a prize thread for the WoW kal and a thread with more info about how to enter on my Ravelry Group.

**Works in Progress**

Never ending socks

Sock yarn scrappy blanket got quite a bit of work over the holidays.

I am finished the Opera sweater but I want to make the sleeves a bit narrower.

Organised Chaos shawl is a design that Wooldiaries and I worked on together and will be released for the KAL in Febuary.

I am also working on a Savannah cowl which will hopefully be done in time for the KAL.

Glad to be back and I hope everyone has a really exciting year.